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Hair colouring help

11 replies

Pear21 · 29/06/2022 17:43

Hi

Ive somehow managed to reach a grand old age and never had my hair professionally coloured. About to take the plunge soon - what do I choose? Baylage? Partial baylage?

If I choose baylage do I also need to choose full head colour and then the baylage goes on top? Sorry if that’s a daft question.

Basically I want my grey hairs covering and just generally hair lightening up a bit. Thanks

OP posts:
CinnamonJellyBeans · 30/06/2022 07:55

Base colour, length, condition, how much grey, are you prepared to pay a lot for hairdresser to maintain? How much lighter do you need to go?

Pear21 · 30/06/2022 08:53

Brown, mid length/long, grey quite noticeable. Not sure which colour, just want to look ‘nice’ and natural colours. I’m happy to maintain but never spent much money on hair before so no idea what to expect. Basically I’m going grey and need to cover it up but I’m too scared I’d make a rubbish job of a home colour. Thoughts?

OP posts:
Traceyfudge77 · 30/06/2022 09:51

Can’t help with baylage but I was like you with greying hair and had it professionally coloured for years, eventually became 100%grey.

After a lot of nagging from a friend (who is a box dye fan and looks fabulous) during first lockdown I resorted to box dye. Tried a few brands and shades. My conclusions, for what they’re worth, are:

the expensive brands, where you have an online consultation first, are no better than the cheap ones

the colours are always a bit darker than on the box when first applied

even the cool browns have warm highlights in them

it still takes me over an hour just to apply, my friend does the back for me

deciding how long to leave on - both roots and then all over - is unique to you and a matter of trial and error

I have an impressive collection of old stained towels to protect table and floor with before I start ( I am such a clumsy cow)

even a semi permanent (I liked nice’n’ easy) will end up as permanent because the colour never fully washes out, but it might be a good place to start as you build up confidence

my hair quickly returned to good glossy condition after I quit the salon colouring,
the salon products are very strong and damaging, so they end up selling you various treatments as well

the cheap dyes are gentler, they must have less of the damaging chemicals in them, and just as effective - my favourite is Superdrug performance 5.00, but now I understand the number system I do ring the changes a little

the conditioner provided with the dye is marvellous and with my shorter hair lasts for a few washes

I use cheap colour protect shampoo and conditioner like L’Oreal

it now takes me 15 months to spend on colouring what I previously spent in each salon visit - and that’s excluding the cost of cut and blow and before the treatments (Olaplex and such like) were added on

Hope this helps.

Traceyfudge77 · 30/06/2022 10:32

Just to add, I started with semi permanent nice’n’easy 91, it’s called dark blonde, it is mid brown.

The difference with permanent and semi permanent according to my hairdresser is the SP stops developing after 30 mins or so, so colour won’t get any deeper after that. The P keeps on developing to an extent so timing is important.

After about a year I moved on to P as SP could no longer tackle the ever increasing grey.

dementedpixie · 30/06/2022 10:42

Why are you choosing balayage?
I get a full head of highlights and that involves lots of foils and no other colours. It helps blend in the greys along my parting

Pear21 · 30/06/2022 11:50

Thanks all that’s helpful. I was only choosing baylage because that’s all the salon seemed to do, or full colour.

any tips on choosing box dye if I decide to go down that route? I literally have no idea on colour, just chose the same as my normal hair colour??

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/06/2022 11:52

Are you sure they don't offer highlights/foils?

TabithaTittlemouse · 30/06/2022 11:55

I like balayage because it’s not obvious as it grows out.
I have my roots done mid brown to match my natural colour and then a golden brown or copper balayage through the lengths.

Frequency · 30/06/2022 11:55

I would get babylights rather than balyage. They'll blend in the greys and help you avoid the cost of having to have a root colour applied too.

They will offer babylights/highlights. It may not be advertised as it's not as "fashionable" as balyage but I promise, all salons do highlights.

JimmyMcNultyIsMine · 30/06/2022 20:02

I'm just going to add a word of warning about going box dye/full head...the trouble with these (as opposed to something like balayage) is the upkeep. Unless you match you exact natural colour/tone you will get a root line. And as more greys come in, and your hair naturally changes colour as you age, that root like will become more and more obvious.

And it is very difficult to get rid of the root line once you have it without some kind of transition/grow out/badger stripe phase. So think about "what if I CBA to dye it anymore" before you start.

Pear21 · 30/06/2022 22:11

Very good point. Think I’ll go for baby lights /highlights and go from there thanks all

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